CONSTRUCTION apprentices at Filton College are struggling to complete their qualifications – because firms are not offering placements because of the credit crunch.

The college has about 350 students aged 16 to 18 on a range of courses including carpentry, bricklaying and plastering.

But those studying for two years for a NVQ qualification – who need a six-month stint with an external employer to gain their certificate – cannot complete their course.

Tyrone Criddle, 17, completed the first part of his NVQ qualification in bricklaying in June – but can't find a placement, due to the downturn in the construction industry.

He said: "We're ringing round to get a placement but things are bad in the building trade, so they're just going for people with experience.

"I wanted to do this because I've always been interested in the trade.

"We didn't know when we started the course 18 months ago that there wouldn't be anyone who wanted to take us on."

Michael White, 18, of Hanham has also struggled to find work with an outside employer.

He said: "My dad's in the building trade so I got a taste of what it was like, and loved it. Now, we can't find a placement, even though we've put in the effort to do the NVQ."

The pair have now enrolled on Filton College's plastering course to add another string to their bows.

George Ridd, head of construction at Filton College, said: "We're now running more construction courses than ever, but it's getting more difficult to find people to take on apprentices.

"The new-build construction market for homes may be slowing down, but there's plenty of work for councils who need to improve their own social housing stock."

Sara-Jane Watkins, assistant principal of Filton College, said: "Two years ago we delivered more than £900,000 of construction training, this year it will be in excess of £3million.

"Our facilities in construction are the best in the region, and more than £1m has been invested in this area in the last two months.

"For many companies facing economic hardship, a semi-skilled trainee who's on a salary of £80 a week is far more cost-effective than other labourers."

But she said the college was still offering construction courses, despite the problems.

She said: "We think that if a recession comes, it will be very short."

Despite the problems placing students with firms, one of Bristol's big construction firms says the future for apprentices is far from gloomy.

Louise Mayall, learning and development manager for the Midas Group, said: ''We have a tiered approach to bringing talent into Midas – apprentices, undergraduate students studying at HNC, degree holders and masters as well as at a professional level. Midas Group has increased the number of apprentices that it has taken on this year, with the most popular occupation being carpentry, and we currently have two masons.

"The way the construction industry works has changed over the last few years and it is now not as easy to give apprentices the wide skill base that is necessary for them to learn their trade.

"We have strong links with a number of colleges in Bristol. We are part of the Employers Forum at UWE (University of the West of England), we have a relationship that we are looking to build on with Filton College and we have students studying with the construction faculty at The City of Bristol College ''

Lesley Houareau, recruitment manager for Stoke Gifford builders ISG Pearce, said: "As a management contractor, we organise sub-contractors to complete the works on site – this is quite standard in the construction industry.

"We have a very small core of tradespeople – probably only around 20 bricklayers/carpenters and have not needed to employ apprentices for several years. The subcontractors would be the organisations who have the apprentice vacancies."